SCOUTS from all over the county are preparing to come together for the biggest-ever gathering in their history.

Appropriately named The Big Event, this weekend's celebration at the Kent County Showground, Detling, will be the largest event in Kent Scouts' history.

It is one of a number of events held this year to mark 100 years of Scouting.

The 6,000 Scouts expected to attend will take part in all the usual activities traditionally associated with scouting, as well as a few perhaps less recognizable.

For example, it's unlikely that the boys involved in Robert Baden Powell's first scout camp on Brownsea Island, in August 1907, would have tried their hand at painting graffiti on a wall, metal detecting or crazy golf.

Neither would they have got to watch a demonstration by RAF Sea King helicopters, or have a go at ice climbing and caving using artificial walls and caves.

Bunty Ridgeway, a member of the organising team said the gathering would be unique.

She said: "We're celebrating 100 years of scouting so we wanted to put on something special for the leaders and Scouts to enjoy and remember.

"It’s certainly the biggest Scout event I’ve ever been involved in."

Among the other activities at the Big Event will be a zip wire, an archery range, and bouncy castles.

Crowds will also be entertained by pistol shooting shows, parachute jumps, fly-passes and motorbike displays.